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Just did a visa run on Saturday for a relative staying with us for a few months and found some interesting changes.

Time was against us, so instead of going to Hatta from Abu Dhabi, we struck for Al Ain aiming to just get a 30day extension on the Muscat road checkpoint 30km after Buraimi. (N24 13.417 E056 09.755)

Things have changed though. The Hilli checkpoint at Buraimi (N24 14.039 E055 46.184) now checks if you are going as far as the Muscat road checkpoint, and if so, you need a UAE Exit Visa at Hilli to allow you to get an Oman entry Visa at Muscat Rd CP. We didn’t get this and were turned back at Muscat road for not having it.

But on return to Buraimi to get the said exit stamp we discovered that Hilli Checkpoint has an immigration office (its not marked, but you turn left straight after going through the checkpoint to the Buraimi side, head towards the checkpoint huts which take you back to the Al Ain side and there is a row of about 10 new single storey offices before you reach the checkpoint huts. Immigration is about the third from the end.“

My relative was able to go in there, get a new Visa (at no charge) and off we went back to Abu Dhabi. Also, in discussion with the very pleasant immigration man, he showed us on his computer that everyone actually gets a 60day visa, wherever they enter the UAE (Airport or Border, Dubai or Abu Dhabi) even when the Abu Dhabi stamp actually says 30 days in the passport. When asked why, he said Abu Dhabi physically stamps 30days to give some slack but a 60 day visa has always been recorded on the Visa immigration computer system. and as long as a person leaves or renews there visa before the end of the 60 days, no problem. (I saw it on the computer for myself) He checked my Mother in laws return flight date which was about 45 days away and confirmed she was fine until two weeks after this if she was delayed for any reason.

I’m still surprised there was no charge and we even got a cup of tea from them! I would suggest any visitors (or long stay non residents) just check with the immigration man on entry that they are still recorded as 60 days on the system each time.

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Child support

I've lived in Dubai for 5 years now and have been an expat for nearly 30 years in 10 different countries. I've recently gone through the divorce process in Australia and am very clued on what the rules are. I have first hand experience.

If you move your tax residence to the UAE the Australian CSA MUST close your case. Make sure that you send them the actual date that you left and always make sure that on the departure card that you tick that you are leaving Australia permanently. Don't worry ...you can return. It's important that you're tax resident of another country.

In effect, you are not under the thumb of the CSA. They will take 6 months to decide that you are in a non reciprocal country and try to make you pay CS. But don't ....you will never get it returned to you. You now do not have to pay child support. Please read the CSA web site about this.

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Settling in

I have settled in really really well here, and far better than I imagined with a little baby! Don't worry about it, all you have to do is be quite open to getting out and meeting people. I've made lots of friends here with babies and to be honest I've found most of my good friends live near me in Arabian Ranches or the other popular areas like Springs/Meadows etc. Most mums drive everywhere in the heat, but in the Autumn/Winter we'll be able to walk around more and there are little shopping precincts/lakes/parks etc in these areas. Make sure you check out all the areas to live thoroughly as so many families live in the residential areas and I've met people at groups/coffee shops and by the pool. I'm sure you can do the same in an apartment but you may wish you did have a garden after the time you spend inside through the summer months!! I know we're all looking forward to putting our babies together on the lawns when it gets cooler!! But I know the apartments down in the Marina are lovely and the Marina Walk is so nice in the evenings.

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Visa run Dubai Hatta/Oman

Yvan needed to do his visa run, so we set off Friday morning (i was told the later you go the longer the line gets, which was true).

It was amazingly simple, he got out at the 1st check post and had the exit stamp done at the counter (I have a residence visa so didnt need to get out of the car) drove past 2nd check post (which was the customs one). They smiled and waved us onward (nice lads).

We then got to the 3rd post where we went into the immigration building, where Yvan paid dhs. 60 then went to a counter round the other side and then we were off, back to the 1st check post where he got his entry stamp and that was it!

Now comes the fun part, we tried nipping into Hatta fort for a coffee and were told it was a dhs. 50 entry charge per person, which could be deducted from the restaurant bill (never heard such rubbish, does Hatta fort think they are the Blasted Burj al Arab of Hatta!!!)

This was a good thing tho coz we ended up at the Holiday Arabian resort hotel n discovered they have a small booze shop! so in addition to a visa run we got to stock up as well... all in a days work as they say!

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